Chapter 264 - 264: Trust and Respect

[Third Person Pov]

"As I was saying," Batman continued, picking up the conversation he had begun with the other League members present, "we'll finish this discussion inside. We shouldn't be long."

With a soft mechanical hum, the shelves along the wall parted. A sleek scanning device descended from the ceiling and began identifying each Justice Leaguer in turn, projecting serial numbers and codenames in glowing blue light. The process ended with Red Tornado.

A hidden door slid open, revealing the shimmering entrance to a Boom Tube. The adult heroes prepared to step through—until Speedy's voice cut sharply across the room.

"That's it?!" he exclaimed, voice thick with indignation. "You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass!"

Aquaman regarded him with calm patience. "This is only the first step. You've been granted a privilege many never receive."

"Oh, really?" Speedy shot back, gesturing toward the elevated viewing gallery above, where tourists could be seen pressing against the glass, peering in and snapping photos.

Danny went so far as to blow the onlookers a cheerful kiss in greeting.

Green Arrow stepped forward, tone measured and understanding. "Roy, you just need to be patient."

"What I *need* is respect!" Speedy spun to face the other protégés, voice rising. "They're treating us like kids!"

Danny glanced down at his own hands, turning them over thoughtfully. "I mean…"

"Worst of all," Speedy pressed on, "they're treating us like sidekicks!"

Danny looked around the room, silently wondering exactly who this "us" was that Roy kept referring to.

"We deserve better than this," Speedy declared, his expression hardening with intensity.

Danny and the rest simply exchanged glances. No one said a word. The silence was so pointed that Danny had to fight the urge to snicker.

"You're kidding, right?" Roy demanded, noticing the complete lack of support. "You're all seriously playing their game?! Why?!"

His gestures grew more animated. "Today was supposed to be *the* day! Step one to becoming full-fledged members of the League!"

"It was?" Danny whispered in genuine confusion. He leaned toward Aqualad and murmured, "Did you come here under the impression that we were getting indoctrinated into the Justice League?"

Aqualad answered with a small, quiet shake of his head.

"I thought step one was just a tour of the HQ," Wally said, shifting on his seat and glancing around for confirmation.

"Same here," Danny added, raising a hand.

"Except the Hall isn't the League's real HQ!" Speedy protested, taking a step forward. "I bet they never told you this place is just a small front for tourists—and a pit stop for catching Zeta-beam teleporter tubes to the real thing!"

He jabbed a finger upward. "An orbiting satellite called the Watchtower!"

Danny blinked. 'Wait… that wasn't supposed to be known? Is that supposed to be some kind of secret?'

Batman gave Oliver a slow, sideways glance. Green Arrow lifted a hand to partially block the look and turned toward Barry instead. "Is he still glaring at me?"

Flash gave a tiny nod, lips pressed tightly together.

Green Arrow lowered his hand and faced Batman with a look of resigned acceptance. "I know, I know… but I thought maybe we could make an exception?"

Batman didn't reply. His only response was the visible narrowing of his eyes.

"…Or not."

Aquaman stepped forward, placing himself firmly in front of Speedy. "You're not helping your cause, son. Stand down. Or—"

"Or what?!" Speedy interrupted. "You'll send me to my room?! And I'm not your son!"

He turned and pointed at Oliver. "I'm not even his! I thought I was his partner—"

With a sharp motion, Speedy yanked off his hat and flung it to the floor. "But not anymore."

The atmosphere in the room grew thick and tense. The only thing Danny could think in that moment was, 'This would have been great with some popcorn.'

Speedy turned on his heel and began walking away. As he passed Danny, Aqualad, Wally, and Robin, he delivered one final parting shot.

"I guess they're right about you four. You're not ready."

Danny's fist rose instinctively, crackling with green ectoplasmic energy. Aqualad reached over and gently lowered it for him.

As soon as the doors sealed shut behind Speedy, a sharp beeping sound echoed through the chamber, drawing every eye upward.

Superman's face appeared on the main viewscreen, expression serious. "Superman to Justice League. There's been an explosion at Project Cadmus. The facility is on fire."

"I've had my suspicions about Cadmus for some time," Batman said as he and the other League members gathered closer to the screen. "It may present the perfect—"

A second alert cut him off. Another screen flared to life, this one displaying Zatara's urgent face.

"Zatara to Justice League. The sorcerer Wotan is using the Amulet of Aten to block out the sun. Requesting full League response."

Batman turned back to the first screen. "Superman?"

"It's a small fire," the Man of Steel reported. "Local authorities have it under control. Cadmus can wait."

Danny raised a hand and floated a little closer, interjecting himself into the conversation without hesitation. "We can go and handle Cadmus, if you like."

"No," Batman answered instantly.

Danny's brow furrowed. "Huh? And why not? It's just a small fire. It wouldn't be the first time I've had to put one out."

"Because there is more to Cadmus than what meets the eye," Batman explained, voice low and firm. "I wouldn't feel comfortable sending any of you out there unsupervised."

Robin stepped up beside Danny, arms crossed. "Why? Because you don't trust us?"

Danny drifted forward and landed lightly in front of the assembled League members. "Simply let us investigate Cadmus while you deal with the rogue sorcerer. Ever since you've taken us in, haven't we been constantly proving ourselves?"

He looked from one hero to the next, green eyes steady. "Haven't I proven myself capable after every completed mission?"

"This is different," Batman said, frowning.

"How so?" Danny challenged, raising a single brow.

"Because I said so," Batman replied, eyes narrowing in clear warning.

Superman's voice came through the monitor again, calm but supportive. "I say we let them go. It's just a small fire anyway—there will be no harm done. He's right, you know. I personally feel he has proven himself. I was only able to defeat Metallo and Technus thanks to his help."

"I'm with Superman," Oliver added. "Let's not forget the incident with the phantom dragon and Spectra."

"There was also the case of Ember in Central City," Flash put in, advocating for Danny's competence.

"Youngblood and the Flying Dutchman in Atlantis," Aquaman joined in. If they were going to list Danny's previous achievements, it only seemed fair to be thorough.

"And many more cases in Gotham," Martian Manhunter finished, giving Batman a distinct, meaningful look.

Batman was silent for a long moment. Finally he exhaled through his nose, clearly recognizing he was outnumbered.

"…Fine," he relented. "While the rest of us rendezvous with Zatara, you handle the Cadmus fire. But that's it. No secret investigation."

"Sir, yes, sir." Danny gave a crisp, exaggerated salute, a confident grin stretching across his face. He then angled two casual fingers toward the viewscreen. "You're the man, Superman."

Superman responded with a small, knowing wink.

"We'll all meet at Zatara's coordinates," Batman told Superman before ending the call with a press of a button.

The doors to the Zeta-tubes parted with a soft hiss. Batman fixed the younger heroes with one last look. "Remember—only the fire."

As the rest of the Justice League moved toward the open tubes, Green Arrow turned slightly toward Martian Manhunter and muttered, "Regretting not bringing… you know who?"

"A small bit," the Martian admitted. "She would have fitted right in."

With that, the adult heroes stepped through and teleported out of the Hall of Justice, leaving the chamber quiet once more.

The moment they were alone, Robin noticed the sly, unmistakable smirk settling across Danny's features.

"We're thoroughly investigating Cadmus, aren't we?" Robin asked, a faint grin of his own tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"You already know it, Baby Bird," Danny replied, interlocking his fingers and cracking his knuckles with a sharp series of pops. "Let's go find out just what makes Batman so suspicious of Cadmus."

"Don't call me that," Robin said flatly, his grin turning into a small frown.

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